BetGuard: what it covers, how long it lasts, how to join
BetGuard is Ontario's centralized self-exclusion program for online gambling, running since 2026-05-14. You choose a term of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, and the exclusion applies across sites registered in Ontario. AGCO published the standards for it on 2026-04-02. Join on betguard.ca. If you need to talk to someone, ConnexOntario is 1-866-531-2600.
Checked by the editorial team on
- 2 min read
- 8 sections
- 1 table
- 5 FAQ
The facts
| Item | What we found |
|---|---|
| Province | Ontario (19+) |
| Standards published | 2026-04-02 (AGCO) |
| Program live | 2026-05-14 |
| Terms | 6 months, 1 year, 5 years |
| Covers | Sites registered in Ontario |
| Address | betguard.ca |
Takeaway: one registration at BetGuard covers the registered Ontario sites.
How to join
- Open betguard.ca.
- Choose a term. Think it over: a longer term is harder to reverse.
- Follow the steps on the site. We have not enrolled and describe no screens or documents.
Operators also run their own programs under the Ontario standards. The tools each registered operator documents will be listed in the responsible gambling tools dataset.
What we could not confirm
- Whether and how BetGuard interacts with Alberta's selfexclusion.ca or the programs of other provinces.
- What happens at the end of a term.
- Any fee or waiting period.
How it fits with other tools
BetGuard is one of several tools. Limits and breaks are set in your operator account, while a self-exclusion is a longer stop. Operators in Ontario also run their own programs under the standards, so check what each site you use offers.
Help
ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600, SMS 247247. Gambling involves risk. Play responsibly. Other provinces: help lines by province. Overview of all tools: limits, breaks and self-exclusion.
How we checked
- We took dates and terms from AGCO and BetGuard pages.
- We left out anything that was not on those pages.
- We did not enrol.
Sources
What changed
- : first version.
FAQ
What is BetGuard?
Ontario's centralized self-exclusion program for online gambling. It has run since 2026-05-14, and AGCO published the standards for it on 2026-04-02.
How long does it last?
You choose a term of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
Which sites does it cover?
Sites registered in Ontario. It does not reach sites outside the Ontario registry, and we could not confirm how it treats other provinces.
Where do I join?
On betguard.ca. We have not enrolled and describe no screens; read the steps on the program's own site.
Who can I call?
ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600, or text 247247, taken from the official page.